The Organization has 54 field offices around the world. Its headquarters are located in Paris, France.

Its mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

The Organization focuses, in particular, on two global priorities, Africa and Gender equality, and supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, through all its programmes.

A happy learner is more likely to be a thriving one – better able to solve problems and apply critical thinking skills, more self-confident and likelier to form and foster positive relationships with others.

Happy learners require Happy Schools, those that ensure the holistic development and well-being of students and the wider school community.

In light of today’s competitive, stress-fueled and test-focused education systems, the Happy Schools Project aims to offer an alternative notion of the quality of education that values and nurtures learners’ diverse talents and strengths. In 2016, UNESCO Bangkok published Happy Schools! A Framework for Learner Well-being in the Asia-Pacific, which features 22 criteria for a happy school, as well as promising and innovative practices based on voices from the school level.

The Happy Schools Project calls for education systems to reposition the school as more than a service for educational instruction, but rather, an environment which allows for social and emotional growth and development for learners to contribute to a more peaceful, just and equitable world.

As part of UNESCO Bangkok’s Happy Schools Project, this video contest seeks to capture actions, moments and ideas that showcase and promote happiness in schools and learner well-being. All residents of the Asia-Pacific region are invited to submit video(s), along with a brief caption/description, that captures the concept of Happy Schools.

Submission Process, Requirements and Disclaimers

Submission Process and Requirements:

1. The competition is open to people of all ages residing in the Asia-Pacific region. This includes students, teachers, school leaders and parents. The competition also welcomes submissions from amateur and professional artists, photographers and designers, filmmakers, etc.

2. Each entrant can submit up to two (2) high-resolution videos of any kind

7. Each video must be of high quality and saved in a reliable video format (ex: .avi or .mov)

8. The video files must be named in the following format:

FirstnameLastname(#).fileformat

For example: If your name is Antony Chee Lee and you submit 2 videos, then please use file names = AnthonyCheeLee#1.avi, AnthonyCheeLee#2.avi

9. Any spoken text in languages other than English should be accompanied with English subtitles

10. The video must include a credit section acknowledging all those involved in the production and any clips/videos/music developed by an outside party

11. If you are to use any clips, videos and/or music published by an outside party, you must obtain explicit written permission for the use of such material in your video. Please provide UNESCO with proof of permission upon your submission.

Judging Criteria:

Videos will be judged by a panel comprised of members both within and outside of UNESCO. The judging will be based on the following four criteria:

1. Relevance of the video to the theme of Happy Schools and to one (or more) of the criteria in the Happy Schools Framework

2. Relevance of the caption (description) to the theme of Happy Schools and to one (or more) of the criteria in the Happy Schools Framework

3. Creativity, originality and artistic content of the video

4. Technical quality of the video

Winners and Prizes:

1. The 1 st place winner will be invited to Bangkok, Thailand to present their video at a special launch event (yet to be determined).

2. Prizes for 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd place will be announced soon! Please check back with us regularly for updates.

3. The winner(s) will be notified via email and announced on the UNESCO Bangkok website and social media sources.

All videos will be made available for viewing by the general public.

Disclaimers:

COPYRIGHT: The entrant must be the sole author and owner of the copyright. Entrants must not infringe on the privacy rights, copyright or other rights of any other person. Permission has been sought from any persons, adults or children, who are featured in the video(s). By entering your video into the competition, you grant UNESCO the non-commercial right to use your video in its work.

Entrants’ names with be credited on the video in case of such usage by UNESCO.

AGREEMENT: At the time of entry, entrants are deemed to have read, understood and be in agreement with all rules and conditions. The organizer reserves the right to rule on any issue(s) not covered by these rules and disclaimers. In the event that an entrant should disagree with any decision made by the organizer, that entrant will have the right to withdraw his or her entry. All related expenses incurred shall be borne solely by the entrant. The organizers are not responsible for failure of receipt, loss or damage of any photographs entered in the competition.